Idioms containing HAT
TOP words in categories
AT THE DROP OF A HAT
on any pretext; without needing an excuse or reason
1. Those workmen look for any reason to stop working. They’ll put down their tools at the drop of a hat.
2. Nancy really doesn’t want to stay in her present job. She’ll leave for another one at the drop of a hat. 3
2. Nancy really doesn’t want to stay in her present job. She’ll leave for another one at the drop of a hat. 3
EAT (ONE'S) HAT
to do smth. unpleasant in the case of being proven wrong
1. I don’t believe the boss is going to give us an extra day off work at Christmas time. If he does, I’ll eat my hat.
2. Matthew told me he would eat his hat if my favorite football team won the championship this year. He felt there was no possibility that they could win.
2. Matthew told me he would eat his hat if my favorite football team won the championship this year. He felt there was no possibility that they could win.
KEEP (SMTH.) UNDER (ONE'S) HAT
to keep smth. secret
1. Don’t tell Richard anything you don’t want everyone else to know. It’s impossible for him to keep anything under his hat
2. I’m not telling anyone yet, but Tom and I are getting married. Keep it under your hat, okay?
2. I’m not telling anyone yet, but Tom and I are getting married. Keep it under your hat, okay?
KNOCK SMTH. INTO A COCKED HAT
to be much better than smth. else
1. A show that knocks all the others into a cocked hat.
2. This design knocks everything else into a cocked hat.
2. This design knocks everything else into a cocked hat.
OLD HAT
routine to the point of boredom (1); old-fashioned and outmoded (2)
1. Every New Year’s Eve, we go to the same restaurant for dinner and the same hotel for dancing. It’s getting to be old hat and I’m tired of it. Let’s do something different this year.
2. I’ve heard that idea a thousand times before. It’s old hat. Can’t you think of anything new and different that we could try?
2. I’ve heard that idea a thousand times before. It’s old hat. Can’t you think of anything new and different that we could try?
PULL SMTH. OUT OF THE BAG/HAT
to do smth. unexpected that suddenly improves a bad situation
1. Down by three goals with only 10 minutes to go, the home team somehow managed to pull an amazing come-from-behind victory out of the bag.
2. You're job is on the line here, so you'll need to pull something out of the bag at this meeting.
2. You're job is on the line here, so you'll need to pull something out of the bag at this meeting.
TALK THROUGH (ONE'S) HAT
to speak without authority on some topic; to talk nonsense
1. Some people drink too much alcohol and then they begin to talk through their hats. They try to make you think that they know a lot about something when they really don’t.
2. You should listen to Maria when she offers advice about buying real estate. She knows a lot about it. She’s not just talking through her hat.
2. You should listen to Maria when she offers advice about buying real estate. She knows a lot about it. She’s not just talking through her hat.
THROW/TOSS (ONE'S) HAT INTO THE RING
to announce one’s candidacy for elected office
1. At first, Dan hadn’t decided whether or not he wanted to run for governor, but now that he felt he had a good chance of winning, he was ready to throw his hat into the ring
2. In order to get as much publicity for her campaign for mayor of the city as possible, Dr. Smith tossed her hat into the ring early.
2. In order to get as much publicity for her campaign for mayor of the city as possible, Dr. Smith tossed her hat into the ring early.
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